title: The effect of mode of delivery on T regulatory (Treg) cells of cord blood.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate whether the mode of delivery (vaginal versus C-section) influences the levels of CD4+CD25+FOXP3+ Treg cells in cord blood and maternal peripheral blood and also to examine its relationship with plasma cortisol levels.
  
  
  METHODS
  Newborns either born vaginally (n = 19) or via elective C- section (n = 20) and their mothers, as well as 20 healthy but not pregnant women, were included in the study. CD4+CD25+FOXP3 (Treg) cells were examined by flow cytometry. Total lymphocyte counts (TLC) and serum cortisol levels were also determined for all the groups.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The percentages of CD4+CD25+FOXP3 cells and the serum cortisol levels of infants born vaginally (p < 0.004 and p < 0.0001) and their mothers (p < 0.0001 for both) were found to be significantly higher than those of newborns born by C-section and their mothers. Positive correlations were seen between CD4+CD25+FOXP3+ cells (r = 0.741) and serum cortisol levels (r = 0.468). No relationship was observed between newborns delivered by C-section and their mothers (r = 0.022 for both).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study suggests that mode of delivery affects cord blood Treg cells. Higher CD4+CD25+FOXP3+ Treg cells of newborns and their mothers in vaginal delivery group and their relationship with serum cortisol levels suggest a stress phenomenon related to vaginal delivery.
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine, Department of Pediatric Immunology-Allergy, Ankara University, Ankara, Turkey. yildiran@omu.edu.tr
authors.forename: Alisan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Yildiran
authors.forename: Engin
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Yurdakul
authors.forename: Deniz
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Guloglu
authors.forename: Figen
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Dogu
authors.forename: Saadet
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Arsan
authors.forename: Meltem
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Arikan
authors.forename: Lugen
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Cengiz
authors.forename: Sevgi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tezcan
authors.forename: Aydan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ikinciogullari
mesh_terms: D002585:Cesarean Section; D036861:Delivery, Obstetric; D005260:Female; D005312:Fetal Blood / Q000166:cytology*; D051858:Forkhead Transcription Factors / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D011247:Pregnancy; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000166:cytology*
chemical_list: C418974:FOXP3 protein, human; D051858:Forkhead Transcription Factors; D006854:Hydrocortisone